ABSTRACT
Despite massive research and educational efforts cancer, still remains one of the most deadly diseases known to man. In the U.S. all cancers combined are the second leading cause of death. In 1996, cancer probably took the lives about 600,000 individuals. Worldwide, cancer is responsible for the death of some 6 million people annually. While great strides have been made to better understand the mechanisms of cancer and to decrease the rate of incidence of many cancers such as breast cancers, laryngeal cancers, leukemias, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, stomach cancer, and Hodgkin's disease, the death rate of all cancers in America has actually increased by approximately 6% from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. A recent American survey found that 6 out of 10 people believed they would develop cancer in their lifetime. In reality, about 40% will actually develop cancer. Figure 17.1 pre sents the leading cancer sites and related deaths in men and women in the U.S. in 1991.
